Excelsior Correspondent
GULMARG, Aug 8: Moving a step closer in positioning Gulmarg as a premier destination for corporate conventions in the State, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today issued directions for setting up of a state-of-the-art Clubhouse with all built-in modern facilities for high-end tourists.
He also ordered setting up of an Artisan Centre here to showcase the state’s finest handicraft and present live demos of how exquisite items are made by the skilled craftsmen.
The Chief Minister issued these directions while chairing a review meeting today, which discussed the follow up action on the earlier directions passed by him to make Gulmarg a high-end all-season tourist resort.
Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar, MLA Gulmarg, Abbas Wani, Commissioner / Secretary, Tourism & Culture, Shailendra Kumar, MD JKTDC and Director Tourism Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Mushtaq Ahmad, Chief Engineer, R&B, Satish Razdan, and MD J&K Cable Car Corporation and CEO, Gulmarg Development Authority, Nazir Ahmad attended the meeting.
Highlighting the need for establishing a high-end Club to boost MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) Tourism at Gulmarg, Mufti Sayeed directed Commissioner / Secretary, Tourism, to prepare a detailed concept plan so that the work on the project can commence at an earliest.
The proposed Gulmarg Clubhouse will be constructed by J&K Tourism Development Corporation and will have all ultramodern facilities of conference / convention halls, theatre, pools, gymnasium, sports and children smart zones, besides suites.
Placing high priority on improving the resort’s top-end intake capacity, the Chief Minister stressed upon the Tourism Department to also conceive plans for building five-star accommodation for high-end tourists. “Gulmarg is an all-season destination and MICE tourism will bring in A-listers to the state’s premier resort,” he stated.
The Chief Minister also directed Chief Engineer, R&B, to fully upgrade Gulmarg-Tangmarg and Narbal-Tangmarg Roads under Tourist Destination Programme of the Public Works Department.
On the instructions of the Chief Minister, all roads earlier maintained by Tourist Development Authorities in their respective jurisdictions have been transferred to R&B for its regular upkeep.
To ensure uninterrupted power supply to Gulmarg resort, Mufti Sayeed instructed the Power Development Department to provide a dedicated line from 9.9 MW Drung Power Project. CEO GDA informed the Chief Minister that a heavy duty transformer has been installed at Gulmarg which has resolved the issue of frequent power fluctuations.
Earlier, on his arrival at Gulmarg, the Chief Minister inspected the ongoing restoration work at Maharaja Palace, which is being revived to its pristine glory by GDA. INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) is providing vital inputs to preserve its heritage value.
The Chief Minister also directed the Chief Engineer R&B to macadamize the road leading from the Gulmarg Bowl to the Maharaja Palace.
Expected to be completed by the end of October this year, the heritage centrepiece with five suites, one big conference hall and a press gallery, will be used as an independent convention centre for corporate conferences.
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